Braceable clip board



United States Patent 1 3,013,818 BRACEABLE CLIP y)EGARD Abraham P. Plotzlier and Robert R. Willis, Seattle, Wash.,

assgnors to Piotzker & Willis, Bellevue, Wash., a partnership Filed Apr. 22, 1959, Ser. No. 808,233 1 Claim. (Q1. 281--4-4) This invention relates generally to portable work surfaces and more particularly to improvements in clip boards and the like.

Clip boards conventionally are simply a at surface of generally rectangular outline having a clip centrally located at the top thereof to releasably retain a pad or number of sheets of work paper or the like. ln use, conventional clip boards are fatiguing to hold during use for extended periods since they must be grasped either along the top edge or a side edge by the hand of the user and tend to be somewhat unsteady on the arm of the user unless grasped tightly or unless otherwise supported while the user is writing on the work paper. Such a conventional clip board is awkward to steady, and is also rather awkward to hold and carry if not being used for a'short time, as when Vthe user is moving from one location of use to another location of use.

' As compared with conventional clipboards, the clip board or the like characterizing the present invention has two novel elements in combination; namely (1') a hand graspable grip element such as a fixed knob or the like mounted generally centrally or otherwise appropriately on the back of the board presenting the work surface, and (2) a portion emerging or otherwise otfset from a lower corner of the board, suitably coniigured along its outer surface to comfortably rest in and be contacted by the bend of the elbow of the user when the grip element is grasped.

By the novel arrangement presented, the fatiguing Strain of a continued tight grip for extended periods on the board by the user is obviated, a point of substantial balance of the board is available to the user through the medium of the grip element for ready manipulation of the board conveniently 'oy the user so that the position of the board can be readily changed by the user with movement of only one hand so position changes on the board during progressive use, as when writing or sketching on various areas of the work paper, can be accomplished conveniently and even unconsciously without detraction from or impediment of the writing action.

Further, by virtue of the novel elemental arrangement characterizing the invention, the'work surface is rendered solidly braceable between the hand and the crook of the elbow of the user, and is self-orienting in terms of presenting the work paper on the work surface at substantially the same attitude each time the board is brought from a position of nonuse to a position of use.

lt is a further object and advantage of the elemental arrangement of the present invention to provide bracement means in combination with a clip board or the like whereby such elements and the clip board are inherently sturdy in construction and present a steady work surface.

As will be apparent, a clip board or the like characterizing the present invention is subject to a wide variety of uses, such as for a work board for home and shop use, such as for use in taking dictation, such as for sketching and layout, such as for inventory taking in stores or Warehouses, such as for census taking, and such as for check listing use, particularly where the board is used for more or less extended periods, from time to time, and at various locations.

These yand other objects, advantages, .and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying illustration of certain typical and therefore non-limitive embodiment thereof, wherein like numeralsrefer to like parts and wherein:

FIG. l is an isometric view from an upper aspect of a clip board constituting an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is au isometric view from a lower aspect, of the clip board shown in FIG. 1, also diagrammaticallyfindicating certain dimensional considerations with respect to spacing between the grip element and the elbow contacting portion of the board;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view centrally through the grip element portion of the board shown in FIGS. l and 2;

FIG. 4. is a fragmentary cross sectional View, taken in a plane substantially parallel to the outer edge of the extended portion of the board, showing a modilied form of grip element and a modified form of board surfacing;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary View, partially in cross section, showing the modified form of elbow engaging corner portion of a clip board characterizing the invention; and

V FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, cross sectional view taken substantially along line 6--6 of the modified form of elbow engaging corner portion shown in FIG. 5.

Considering more specically the form of the invention presented at FIGS. l, 2 and 3, the embodiment of the invention there illustrated comprises a clip board hav ing an upper work surface l@ and `a lower work surface 12, with a spring-loaded clip `ini', conventional per se, mounted as by bonding on the upper surface lli centrally at the top thereof, the clip having an aperture 16 by which the board can be conveniently hung when not in use. Also as a matter of preference, the particular type of clip 14 selected for this form of the invention l includes a pair of laterally spaced eyes i8 to conveniently and removably retain a writing instrument such as a pencil, also in a manner conventional per se.

The clip board shown in FIGS. 1 2 and 3 incorporates a hand graspable element in the form of an adjustable knob, generally indicated at Ztl, and an elbow engaging corner portion, generally indicated at 22, at the corner of the board opposite from the point of placement of said grip element 2t). In detail, the knob type graspable element 20, or grip, as shown at lFIG. 3, comprises a rounded knob head 24 of wood or plastic, centrally recessed as y at bore 26 to accommodate nut 28 and washer 3l) onmounting bolt 32, the assembly also including a spacer block 34 to space knob head 24 a comfortable distance from the lower surface 12. of the board so that it is readily and conveniently graspable by the hand of the user.

The edge 36 of elbow engaging portion 22 of the board desired. The hand graspable element is mounted so as to render this distance D adjustable, as by providing a slot 37 in which mounting bolt 32 is settable at vari# ous distances from edge 36 of elbow engaging portion 22. Obviously, the specific position of a grip element such as element 2t), and the specific coniguration and outline or contour of cornerportion 22 can vary widely in spe- Thus, and noting f cie yadaptations of the invention. that clips boards are of various sizes and also noting that the particular distance D between the elbow engaging edge 36 and the grip element 2t) can vary to some degree to accommodate such dimension to Various user arm lengths, it is to be recognized that a placement of theV Patented Dec. 19, '19er grip element can vary from substantially from a point almost at the upper corner of a small board to substantially centrally in a large board and/or the particular placement and outline of corner portion 22 and its edge 36 can vary from a quite extended contour on a small clip board to even a fully recessed edge portion in a large board. As will also be evident, the important consideration in these respects is that the distance D be maintained at substantially the distance between the center of the palm and the crook of the elbow of an average user, for the sake of comfort and ease of manipulation in use. Further, while not essential, it is considered preferable to place the grip element as close to or near the center of gravity of the board as is compatible with the above considerations, for the reason that such provides a comfortable point of balance for steadying or otherwise manipulating the board.

To further demonstrate another form of suitable hand graspable element characterizing this portion of the elemental arrangement of the invention, FIG. 4 presents in cross section a grip element, generally designated 38, comprising a strap 40, anchored to the under-surface 12 of the clip board by suitable means such as rivets 42, said strap 40 having molded thereon a plastic or rubber grip cover 44 to render the same more comfortably graspable by the hand of the user. In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 4, the upper surface l' of the board has laminated thereto a covering 46 to hide the ends of rivets 42 and present a completely flat, unbroken work surface on the board. In practice, suitable forms of the board have been constructed by use of 14s inch thick hardboard to provide the upper and lower surfaces and 12, or 10 and 12', and by use of a hard covering material such as Formica or other hard plastic as the upper surface 46.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate in fragmentary plan and cross sectional views a modified form of the elbow contacting portion of the board, such portion, generally indicated at 48, having in this instance a curved outer edge 5t) of concave contour and having a molded foam rubber or soft plastic molding 52 concealing said outer edge S0 and providing as a reiinement a padding or like surface for engagement of this portion of the board against the crook of the elbow of the user.

As will be readily apparent, the embodiments of the clip board illustrated at FIGS. l and 2 is designed for use by a right-hand user, with the grip element 2t) grasped by the left hand and the elbow contacting edge 36 engaging the crook of the left elbow of the user. As will be further apparent, the arrangement can be reversed for left-hand use, so that the clip board can be held in the right hand and placed against the right elbow of the user, as desired.

From the foregoing disclosure of certain typical forms, features and aspects of the invention, various further modifications, adaptations, and elemental arrangements as well as elemental detail will be recognized by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the following claim.

What is claimed is:

A braceable clip board having a generally rectangular configuration with clip means near the top edge thereof, an elbow engageable segment extending from said board at the side of and near one lower corner thereof knoblike, hand graspable means including a palm nesting grip portion situated substantially outwardly from the bottom of the board near the corner of said board opposite from said elbow engageable segment, and means mounting said hand graspable means on said board including adjustment means for varying the spacing between said hand graspable means and said elbow engaging segment so that the distance therebetween can be set to be substantially the distance between the center of the palm and the crook of the elbow of a particular user, the generally diagonal arrangement of said grip portion and said elbow engageable segment providing that said board is presented in a natural writing attitude when the user braceably supports same in the most natural manner.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 542,419 Love July 9, 1895 1,861,174 Applegate May 3l, 1932 2,516,239 Moss July 25, 1950 2,547,167 Nielsen Apr. 3, 1951 2,881,009 Delaney Apr. 7, 1959 2,896,328 Grady July 28, 1959 

